Student/Parent Handbook - Onteora Central School District

6. Reporting a false alarm, arson, calling a bomb threat. (Police involvement).7. Possession of a weapon on school property. (Gun-Free Schools Act: Any student who hasbrought a “firearm” to school, shall be suspended for a period of not less than onecalendar year subject to a determination of the Superintendent on a case-by-case basis).(Police involvement).The board retains its authority to suspend students, but places primary responsibility forthe suspension of students with the superintendent and the building principals.Any staff member may recommend to the superintendent or the principal that a student besuspended. All staff members must immediately report and refer a violent student to theprincipal or the superintendent for a violation of the code of conduct. Allrecommendations and referrals shall be made in writing unless the conditions underlyingthe recommendation or referral warrant immediate attention. In such cases a written reportis to be prepared as soon as possible by the staff member recommending the suspension.The superintendent or principal, upon receiving a recommendation or referral forsuspension or when processing a case for suspension, shall gather the facts relevant to thematter and record them for subsequent presentation, if necessary.a. Short-term (5 days or less) suspension from schoolWhen the superintendent or principal (referred to as the “suspending authority”)proposes to suspend a student charged with misconduct for five days or less pursuant toEducation Law §3214(3), the suspending authority must immediately notify the studentorally. If the student denies the misconduct, the suspending authority must provide anexplanation of the basis for the proposed suspension. The suspending authority mustalso notify the student’s parents in writing that the student may be suspended fromschool. The written notice must be provided by personal delivery, mail delivery, orsome other means that is reasonably calculated to assure receipt of the notice of thedecision to suspend at the last known address for the parents. Where possible, noticeshould also be provided by telephone if the school has been provided with a telephonenumber(s) for the purpose of contacting the parents.The notice shall provide a description of the charges against the student and theincident for which suspension is proposed and shall inform the parents of the right torequest an immediate informal conference with the principal. Both the notice andinformal conference shall be in the dominant language or mode of communication usedby the parents.The notice and opportunity for an informal conference shall take place before thestudent is suspended unless the student’s presence in school poses a continuing dangerto persons or property or an ongoing threat of disruption to the academic process. If thestudent’s presence does pose such a danger or threat of disruption, the notice andopportunity for an informal conference shall take place as soon after the suspension asis reasonably practicable.b. Long-term (more than 5 days) suspension from schoolWhen the superintendent or building principal determines that a suspension for morethan five days may be warranted, he or she shall give reasonable notice to the studentand the student’s parents of their right to a fair hearing. At the hearing the student shall38